Vibratory packing machine



y 1962 w. s. BOHLMAN ETAL 3,033,069

VIBRATORY PACKING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet l PORT 50 PORT 53 WALTER S. BOHLMAN JACK D. HAYES,JR. INVENTORS TO I33 BY 212M 11; PM

AGENT.

May 8, 1962 Filed May 21, 1958 PORT 53 W. S. BOHLMAN ETAL VIBRATORY PACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1 lOd IOc

WALTER S. BOHLMAN JACK D. HAYES,JR

INVENTORS AGENT.

May 1962 w. s. BOHLMAN ETAL 3,033,069

VIBRATORY PACKING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1958' 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 CONSTANT PRESSURE AIR 26 26 2 |b 25 26 log 2 lb 2|= 2| r 21 26 O K 27 27 2|o. n 21d lob 'fi 7l M A W l W WALTER SBOHLMAN JACK D. HAYES,JR. lOc FIG. 5 INVENTORS BY PM AGENT.

May 8, 1962 Filed May 21, 1958 W. S. BOHLMAN ETAL VIBRATORY PACKING MACHINE 144 0 Z Al3 y y 2 N l4 4 29 FIG-.7

9 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 9

WALTER S.BOHLMAN FIG. 8 JACK D. HAYES, JR.

mvmm )RS AGENT.

May 8, 1962 W. S. BOHLMAN ETAL I VIBRATORY PACKING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1958 LE S TROK E CROS 8 HEAD STROKE #4 OPENS. SHUTTLE RETRACTS H F R -K #7CLOSES.CRIMPER GOES UP CAMS STOP FOR SHELL FEEDING 77'6OPENS.SHELL FEEDER IN 7oPEIvs.cRIMPER DOWN 4cLosEs. SHUTTLE EXTENDS T0 DROP CARTRIDGES aclo RACK BACK FOR sHELIA "'I cI osEs,PI ATEN DOWN. CORING OFF, DISCHARGE TRAY COMES DOWN CAMS START.READ CLOCKWISE FIG. I5

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 PACKING STROKE CORE FORMING REGRESSION xxx Izzz 10-3 lO-5 6. I0

DISCHARGE TRAY RISES aoPENs TAMPS EXTEND 8 CLOSES, ADJUSTING AIR ON TAMPS WALTER S. BOHLMAN JACK D. HAYES,JR.

INVENTORS AGENT.

y 1962 w. s. BOHLMAN ETAL 3,033,069

VIBRATORY PACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 21, 1958 FIG.

m MR m S 0 8% M m MC M b Q M 4 fiw 4 m ,1. w om .m 4 T 4 D..

INVENTORS WWW AGENT.

y 1962 w. s. BOHLMAN ETAL 3,033,069

VIBRATORY PACKING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 21, 1958 IllllllH FIG.

FIG.

FIGZI wALT ER s. BOHLMAN JACK D. HAYES, JR.

FIG. 20

INVENTQRS AGENT.

y 1962 w. s. BOHLMAN ETAL 3,033,069

VIBRATORY PACKING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1958 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 95 a o '5 4 (A16) 89 as 99 I Ill 84 #83 FIG. 26

WALTER s. BOHLMAN JACK o. HAYES,

INVENT AGENT.

3,33,0h9 Patented May 8, 1962 3,033,069 VIBRATORY PACKING MAC Walter S. Bohlman and Jack D. Hayes, Jr., Wilmington,

Del., assignors to Hercules Powder Company, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 21, 1958, Ser. No. 736,860

16 Claims. (Cl. 86-20) This invention relates to the filling and packing of material in containers and, more particularly, to process and apparatus for filling and packing granular and semigelatinous explosive materials into containers.

In the packaging art today it is highly desirable to pack containers with a desired amount of material at a uniform density. While this is important in the packaging and sale of most commodities, it is of particular importance in the explosives art, since the results obtained in blasting operations are often directly dependent upon the uniform packing of the explosive composition in its containers. In modern day blasting techniques where the trend is more and more in the direction of the relatively insensitive blasting agent, the furnishing of a blasting composition at a uniform density is of increasing importance to obtaining positive and uniform detonations with the conventionally employed detonating means such as blasting caps and detonating fuses.

For many years the standard dynamite package has probably been the 1% inch x 8 inch stick. In developing the Hall type ofmachine the art has produced a packer which is satisfactory for this type and size of cartridge, and this general type of machine is generally used in the manufacture of small cartridges. The Hall type packer functions by the tamping of the explosive composition into the cartridge by means of tamping rods. In more recent years, however, cartridges of increased diameter and length have found use and at the present time cartridges in the order of 8 inches in diameter and 24 inches in length are commonplace. Packaging problems were experienced with these larger cartridges also, since it has been the general practice of the art to pack such cartridges by hand. However, these cartridges may be expeditiously packed at the present time by vibration in accordance with the disclosure of our copending application Serial No. 134,530, filed December 22, 1949, now abandoned.

For many years there has been a desire on the part of those engaged in blasting operations to employ small diameter cartridges of increased length such as cartridges 1% to 2 inches in diameter and from 12 to 24 inches in length. These cartridges have been available in very limited quantity, however, in view of the fact that it has not been found possible to satisfactorily modify the Hall type packer to produce such cartridges due at least partially to practical mechanical limitations of this type machine. Since such cartridges can be satisfactorily consolidated by vibration if the material can be uniformly introduced into the cartridge in a proper manner, it has been desired to produce this type of cartridge with a vibratory packer. This effort, however, has not been successful due to the fact that no satisfactory means has been developed for uniformly feeding the explosive into the small diameter cartridge during vibration. Clearly, it is unfeasible from the commercial standpoint to introduce the material by hand. Vibratory feeders have proved unsatisfactory in that the feeding of the explosive into the small diameter cartridges has not been rapid enough or satisfactorily uniform and in any practical machine where a number of cartridges must be packed at once, nonuniform densities are obtained due to the fact that some of the cartridges become filled a substantial period before the others and then were subjected to vibration in the filled condition for an undesirably long period. At the present time, therefore, there is no 7 equipment disclosed in the art which has been found satisfactory for packing long cartridges of reduced diameter. The few that have been available in the past either have been packed by hand or else have been produced by loading shorter cartridges packed on a Hall machine into a longer cartridge. Neither of these methods is commercially feasible.

This invention 'is concerned with apparatus by which containers of any reasonable size and length can be quickly packed in large numbers with fluent solids, to a uniform packing density, and is inclusive of means for uniformly feeding the material, while simultaneously maintaining the container in a state of vibration. A process for uniformly feeding material into such containers to feed same while maintaining the containers in a state of vibration is disclosed and claimed in our US. Patent 2,775,987, assigned to Hercules Powder Company and issued January 1, 1957 on a divisional application of our copending application Serial No. 346,206, filed April 1, 1953, now abandoned. The said process disclosed and claimed in US. 2,775,987 includes the steps of forcing the material through a passageway and into a container by means of a reciprocating member, subjecting the container to vibration to consolidate the material in the container, shortening the effective stroke of the reciprocating member when the container is filled to the desired density, continuing reciprocation of the member with a shortened effective stroke until the passageway is at least partially filled with a packed core of the material, replacing the filled container with an empty container, and lengthening the effective stroke of the reciprocating member to force the packed core into the empty container.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our above said copending application Serial No. 346,206, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 134,530, filed December 22, 1949, now abandoned.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for packing fluent solids into containers therefor. Another object is to provide structure for packing containers with fluent solids having a uniform packing density. Another object is to provide a tamp-vibrator type structure for moving fluent solids into a container therefor while maintaining the said container in a state of vibration to provide for consolidation of materials therein to a body of uniform density. Another object is to provide apparatus for automatically withdrawing tamp rods from a position for tamping fluent solids through an orifice, responsive to build-up of a core of solids in said orifice. Another object is to provide a machine for continuously and automatically packing containers with fluent solids followed by crimpclosing the packed containers to provide finished package units. Another object is to provide apparatus for packing fluent explosive materials to uniform packing densities in empty shell containers therefor to form finished explosive cartridges. Another object is to provide a machine for packing dynamite into elongated cartridge shells to provide finished dynamite cartridges. Other objects and aspects will be apparent in light of the accompanying disclosure and the appended claims.

in accordance with the invention apparatus is provided for filling and packing fluent solid materials into a container, which comprises in combination a platen and means associated with said platen for supporting an openend container thereon; vibrator means associated with said platen and adapted to cause said platen to vibrate;

nipple means disposed above said platen and adapted to convey flow of fluent solids toward said platen; means for actuating said vibrator means to effect vibration of said platen and means for maintaining the resulting vibrating platen in operative position with said nipple so as to engage said nipple with an upper end, said container supported on said platen so as to thereby convey flow of fluent solids from said nipple into said container; a reciprocating rod extending into said nipple and adapted by its reciprocation to force fluent solids through said nipple when said nipple and said container are in said operative position; and means for reciprocating said rod and for maintaining the resulting stroke such that the end of said rod cannot extend substantially beyond the egress orifice of the nipple.

In a further preferred embodiment of the apparatus of theiinvention, the reciprocating members or rods are attached to a crossheadiassembly disposed above a hopper with each rodcoaxial alignment with a nipple in the hopperassembly. The stroke of the rods is such that at their lower limit of travel they do not extend substantially beyond the mouth of the nipples. The individual rods are yieldably mounted in the crosshead assembly so that when thecontainers have'been filled, the effective stroke of the rods will be shortened and a suitable core will be packed inthe nipple. Then when the containers which have been consolidated by vibration are removed, the nipples will be sealed and prevent loss of powder therethrough until an empty set of containers replaces the filled set. At this point the effective length of the stroke is automatically lengthened in a suitable fashion and the initial stroke after the lengthening forces the core from the nipple'into the container and thereafter the material is continuously introduced into the fresh containers as before. While the effective shortening of the stroke of the rods can be accomplished in a number of suitable ways, the preferred structure for that purpose, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, is a feeding or tamping assembly which comprises a cylinder, a reciprocable rod'passing longitudinally through the cylinder, sealing means disposed between rod and cylinder adjacent each end of the cylinder, a piston mounted on the rod within the cylinder and disposed in sealed, slidable relationship with the cylinder walls, a first port for introducing pressurized fluid to one end of the cylinder to exert pressure on one end of the piston, a secondport forintroducing pressurized fluid into the cylinderon the opposite side of the piston, fluid flow through the second port being prevented when the piston is disposed adjaeent the second port, said rod being movable in the direction of the first port for a distance sufficient to move the piston past the second port when a force suflicient to overcome the pressure of the fluid entering the first port is longitudinally applied to the rod, said rod being further movable in the same direction for a distance suflicient to prevent further contact with the work when the fluid entering the second port exerts a pressure on the other surface of the piston suflicient to overcome the pressure exerted by the fluid entering the first port, and said rod being movable in the opposite direction for a distance sufiicient to engage the work when the pressure exerted by the fluid from the second portis released or overcome.

The effective stroke of the reciprocating members or rods can also be shortened by employing a friction joint between the rods and a crosshead support member. In like manner, a suitably weighted rod may be employed whichis freely mounted in a crosshead support. A further alternative for shortening the effective stroke of the rods is to automatically lower the platen and hopper when all containers are filled, allow packing of the cores in the nipples, and then further lower the platen for discharging the shells,

Any desired number of nipples and reciprocating rods may be employed as desired.

It is generally preferred that the stroke of the reciprocating rod be so limited that the rod only forces the material completely through the nipple and does not tarnp pack the material in the container per se. However, it

will be appreciated that in the crosshead assembly specifically illustrated, the stroke can be of any length desired, depending on the length of the cylinders, without changing the operating principle. Thus, if desired, the stroke can be lengthened to the point desired and this particular crosshead assembly may be employed to tamp pack as well as feed.

The invention is further illustrated with reference to the attached drawings of which FIGURE 1 is a crosssectional view of a packer machine of the invention taken on the longitudinal center line; FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation from the front of the machine of FIG- URE 1 taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional elevation of the machine, from the rear, taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, showing parts of the central structure obscured in FIGURE 2; FIGURE 4 is a front sectional elevation of the machine taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1 showing crimpclosing structure, including packed containers in position to be crimp-closed; FIGURE 5 is a front sectional elevation of the machine taken along the line 5-S of FIG- URE 1 except that it shows packed containers in position after the completion of the crimp closure; FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional side view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 2 showing various elements obscured in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the machine opposite that of FIGURE 6 taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 2, also showing parts obscured in FIGURE 1 but being particularly illustrative of a timing mechanism for operating the elements of the machine in the necessary sequence; FIGURE 8 is a sectional elevation of an elevator assembly taken along the line 8-3 of FIGURE 2, which in conjunction with another like unit functions to raise and lower the central structure of FIGURE 2; FIGURE 9 is a partial elevation taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, further illustrative of the structure of FIGURE 8 and its function; FIGURE 10 is a series of cross-sections showing relative positions of tamping and stirring devices of FIG- URES l and 2 during various stages of the packing cycle; FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of a single tamp cylinder unit, illustrative of the plurality of cylinder asemblies of FIGURES 1 and 2; FIGURE 12 is the same as FIGURE 11 except that it shows the piston of FIG- URE l1 and associated parts in retracted or idling position; FIGURE 13 is a partial elevation along the line 13-43 of FIGURE 11 illustrative of a trip valve assembly, including element 60, of FIGURES 1 and 11 as a bar across the rear of the crosshead 42 for operation by the plurality of cylinder assemblies of FIGURES 1 and 2; FIGURE 14 is a line diagram of a pneumatic control system for operating the machine through its cycle; FIGURE 15 is a 360 sequence chart of the pilot valve operation (cam system of FIGURE 7) illustrative of the cycle that results with each complete revolution of the cam unit; FIGURE 16 is a partial elevation along the line 16-16 of FIGURE 4 illustrative of an air cylinder structure for operating the crimper rack in association with the crimp-closing mechanism of FIGURES 4 and 5; FIGURE 17 is a partial plan view taken on the the angular line 17-17 of FIGURE 16; FIGURE 18 is a detailed section of the discharge table assembly of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 19 is illustrative of the assembly of FIGURE 18 when the said assembly is operated to discharge packed containers from the table thereof; FIG- URE 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZII ZI of FIGURE 18; FIGURE 21 is a detailed view of an upper end portion of the rod of FIGURE 18 illustrative of the parallel and spiral paths of guide grooves 136 therein; FIGURE 22 is a section of FIG- URE 21 taken along the line 22-22 of FIGURE 21; FIGURE 23 is a section of FIGURE 21 taken along the line 23-23 of FIGURE 21; FIGURE 24 is a side elevation of a split tube unit which, when disposed around shaft 1128 outside housing 1'23 of FIGURES l and 18,

functions as a limiting stop for the downward travel of table 121; FIGURE 25 is a plan view of FIGURE 24 taken along the line 25-25 of FIGURE 24; and FIG- URE 26 is a detailed section of a preferred vibratory unit of FIGURE 2.

With reference to the drawings, horizontally disposed rotatable shaft 43 (FIGURE 2) is supported at each end by bearings 43a in turn supported in upwardly extending frame portions a and 10b on base 18c and contains cranks 43b near each extremity. Each connecting rod 43c is connected at one end with a crank 43b and extends upwardly from the crank 43b and connects with a clevis 432 attached to an upwardly extending rod 43d, the latter rigidly connecting with the extremities 36 and 37 of a horizontally extending crosshead assembly 42. Shaft 43 is operatively connected with a power source (not shown) for rotating same and to thereby cause the rods 43c and 43d and crcsshead 42, through cranks 43b, to reciprocate.

Crosshead 42 (FIGURES 1 and 2), comprises a pair of horizontalbeams 42a and 42b rigidly attached, respectively, to extended rods 43d at 36 and 37 to provide a reciprocable unit 42. Supported on crosshead 42 by attachment to, and between, horizontal members 42a and 42b is a plurality of substantially vertically disposed fluid tight cylinders 48, each cylinder 48 containing a piston 49 (FIGURES 1, 11 and 12) connected With a downwardly extending piston rod 44 and an upwardly extending piston rod 44a, each said rod extending longitudinally from cylinder 48, in fluid tight relation therewith, and each piston 49 being sealed in a cylinder 48 in fluid tight relation with the inner wall thereof, as discussed more fully with reference to FIGURES 11 and 12. Each rod 44 extends from a lower end of a cylinder 48 to a point where it is joined with a longitudinally, generally vertically, extending wooden rod 45 tipped at its lower end with a nonmetallic tip 46. Fluid inlet and outlet means (port 50 and port 53, FIGURES l1 and 12) are provided at spaced apart points in each cylinder 48 to convey fluid pressure to regulate longitudinal movement of tamp rods 45 with rods 44 and 44a and piston 49, independently of the reciprocating movement of the cylinders 48 that takes place by virtue of their attachment to crosshead 42 when the latter is driven by rotation of shaft 43.

Hopper 38 (FIGURES 1 and 2) with perforated plate bottom 40 is disposed below tamp rods 45 and spaced therefrom to permit each longitudinally moving rod 45 to be aligned with a perforation or nozzle 39 in plate 48 and to enter hopper 38 through the open top 47 thereof and move substantially through a nozzle 39, subject to the position of piston 49 in cylinder 48 as described hereinafter. Horizontally disposed stirrer assembly 41 comprises a pair of horizontal shafts 41b with paddle type blades 41c extending radially therefrom, and are disposed in tandem in a bottom portion of hopper 38. Shafts 41b extend through each end 35 of hopper 38 to journals 41d supported in bearing blocks 41c supported by beams 41 spanning end frames 10a and ltib. Stirrer shafts 41b are suspended in hopper 38, one on each side of the row of nipples 39, and are geared to rotate by application of a power source outside the system, so that the paddles 41c serve to move the powder over the line of nipples in synchronism with the tamps. The rows of paddles on each shaft 41b are spaced 180 apart and therefore each shaft 4112 makes one-half revolution for each full cycle of the tamps.

A horizontally disposed platen 11 (FIGURES 1 and 2) is positioned below hopper 38 so as to support a plurality of upright cylindrical containers, each closed only at the bottom end with the open end in direct communication with a nozzle 39 to receive material from hopper 38 for packing therein. Platen 11 can be raised and lowered to adjust for height of the container to be sup- 6 ported thereon, as described more fully hereinbelow'and with reference to FIGURE 8.

Platen 11 is supported at points near its extremities on resilient mountings 12, each being rigidly attached to a longitudinally, generally vertically disposed, movable piston rod 13a extending upwardly from a fluid cylinder 13, the rod 13a being lowered or raised by action of fluid in the cylinder 13 as described hereinafter. Each cylinder 13 is rigidly attached by bolting to face 32:: of horizontal beam structure 32 which is rigidly supported at each end by bolting to the exteriors of the two hydraulic cylinders 64 described hereinafter. By regulation of fluid pressure in each cylinder 13, rods 13a and, consequently, platen 11 are movable upwardly and downwardly during the cycle as described hereinafter.

Each hydraulic cylinder 64 (FIGURES 2, 3, 8 and 9) is mounted on a fixed vertical piston rod 66 having a fixed piston 67 within the cylinder 64. A hydraulic connection 68 provides access of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the upper end .of each rod 66 and down central bores to an exit above piston 67 into the space 69 between the sealed piston and the sealed upper cylinder head 65. Hydraulic fluid pumped under pressure into spaces 69 causes the cylinders 64 and beam structure 32 to rise. Withdrawal of hydraulic fluid, of course, permits cylinder 64 with beam structure 32. affixed thereto to lower by force of gravity. Beam 32 can thereby be raised and lowered prior to start-up of the machine to regulate the height of platen 11 for accommodation of packing containers of various heights.

A pneumatic vibrator 15 (FIGURE 2, and see also FIGURE 26) is bolted to the underside of platen 11 at 14, the piston 15a being adapted to impose a unidirectional power stroke toward the platen by fluid flow in cylinder 15, as described in more detail with reference to FIGURE 26. Other suitable vibrating means at 14 can be utilized if desired.

Horizontal rotatable shaft 72 (FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 9) is pivotally supported at its ends in bearing blocks 77 directly above beam 32. Arms 31 are keyed to shaft 72 supported in hub 78. Arms 31 are braced by elongated brace, or plate, member 31a which is spaced away from, and parallel to, shaft '72 and is rigidly attached at its extremities to opposite arms 31 at intermediate points 31b thereon.

Each arm 31 extending from shaft 72 is movable in an are around shaft 72. An elongated rack or shuttle member 30, which is in essence a rectangular block, containing a plurality of holes or openings 38a of such size as to receive and support elongated containers is disposed intermediate arms 31 and is pivotally connected at its uper end 3012, i.e., farthest from shaft 72, to the extremities of arms 31 with its opposite, or lower, end 3690 free so as to thereby be suspended from arms 31.

Fluid cylinder 33 (FIGURES 1 and 3) is pivotally connected by trunnions 33a extending laterally therefrom to arms 31c rigidly connected to brace 31a so as, preferably, to span its center and to direct piston rod 33b toward shuttle 30. Rod 33b extending from cylinder 33 terminates in a tongue and clevis 33c attached to a lower rear point of shuttle 30, preferably at central point 30d. Thus, when rod 33b is moved longitudinally, shuttle 39 is caused to pivotally move about the pivoted connection 30e on arm 31.

Fluid cylinders 34 (FIGURES 1 and 3) are each pivotally connected by a pair of trunnions 34b extending laterally therefrom to a set of trunnion bearings 340 which are rigidly attached by bolting to face 32b of horizontal beam structure 32 rigidly supported at each end by bolting to the exteriors of cylinders 64 in a position so as to direct rod 34a from each cylinder 34 toward a clevis 31d and secure it as a tongue therein, each clevis 31d being part of a lower section of an arm 31.

Cylinders 33 and 34, when activated by fluid pressure, cause coordinated movement of arms 31 and shuttle 30 in the handling of containers during the cycle. Thus, by the operation of cylinders 33 and 34 to retract rod 34a and extend rod 33b, shuttle 3% is caused to assume the horizontal position I to be charged with empty containers; by retraction of rod 33]), shuttle 30 is then caused to assume position II and then by extension of rod 34a the shuttle 311 is caused to assume the vertical position III to support the loaded containers during the packing stage; and by subsequent extension of rod 33b the shuttle 341 is caused to assume the position IV to permit packed containers to fall therefrom.

Mounted above shaft 72 but not rotatable therewith is shelf 75) which serves to retain the empty containers within the shuttle 38 while the latter is moved from position I to position III.

Each horizontal shaft 29 (FIGURES l, 4, 5, 6 and 7) is supported in a bearing 2%, the latter being part of the end frames Ida and 10b. An upwardly extending rod 211 is connected at its lower end to short arm 2% of each lever 29c (FIGURES 6 and 7) which is supported and synchronized by shaft 29 as the fulcrum. The opposite or long arm 29d of each lever 290 is pinned to clevises 23c connected with the end of rod 28a of fluid cylinder 28 so that the rod can be raised or lowered by axial movement of the rod 28a, associated therewith, in response to regulation of fluid pressure in the cylinder 28. In this manner, upward and downward movement of each rod 20 is effected by regulation of fluid pressure in cylinder 28. Cylinder 28 is pivotally secured to end frames 19a and 1812 at 28d. Inasmuch as the short arm 2% of lever 29c travels through an arc, the motion imparted to the rods 28 is not strictly vertical and, accordingly, the upper ends of rods 20 are loosely held in pinched guide bearings 211a.

Unit 19, an assembly for crimp-closing the packed containers (FIGURES 1, 4 and 5), includes a horizontally extending beam member 21, also referred to herein as a pin beam, rigidly supported by an upper portion of each rod 20' extended through extremities 21a of the said member. Member 21 is secured to each rod 2% at those points by nuts 27 so as to be reciprocable with rods 29. Each rod 28 extends upwardly into a closed pinched guide bearing 26a which is rigidly attached to frames 19a and 10b and which serves to support the rod 26 in its longitudinally disposed position. Member 21 has protruding from its lower face a plurality of downwardly extending short rods or pins 24 which serve as crimping plungers, as later described.

Each fluid cylinder 2s (FIGURES 4 and 5) is secured to the top side of member 21 at points 21b and contains a piston 26 and a piston rod 2611 with each rod extending through a longitudinally extending opening 21c of member 21 and downwardly from member 21.

Horizontally extending member 22 (FIGURES l, 4 and 5), also referred to herein as a folder beam, is disposed below member 21 in spaced apart relation thereto and substantially parallel to member 21 and is suspended from beam 21 by its attachment at each end portion 22a to bolt member 22b. Eolt member 22!; upwardly through opening 21d of member 21 in loose fit therein to permit movement of bolt member 2211 through member 21. Each bolt 22b is terminated at its upper end, i.e., on the top side of member 21 with a stop nut 22c to prevent movement of the end of bolt 22b through opening 21d.

Beam 22 is forcibly separated from beam 21 by rods 26a extending from cylinder wherein a constant source of fluid pressure acts as a uniform deflection spring.

Member 22 contains a plurality of openings 23 extending downwardly therethrough and terminating in flanged form 23a as folding dies referred to hereinafter. Each opening 23 is in alignment with a pin 24 and contains a pin 24 axially disposed therein which terminates short of or slightly entering a die 23a when the machine is out of crimping position. When rods 25 are moved downwardly by action of cylinders 23 and levers 290,

beam member 22 moves on to the top of the containers to be closed to fold them partially shut by pressing action of dies 23a. The travel of beam 22 is limited by the stops 8 in order not to crush or buckle the containers. Beam 21, brought down by action of cylinders 23 and levers 29c, is disposed to overtravel so as to bring the pins 24 through the openings 23 and 23:: onto the folded closure to press home the folded container wall portion to thereby secure the folds to complete the closure. The latter is effected by action of cylinders 28 and levers 290 on rods 29 to pull member 21 downwardly, as above described.

Horizontal shaft 17 (FIGURES l, 4 and 5), also referred to herein as an anvil in view of the action thereon during the crimp step, is disposed below, and substantially parallel to, member 22 and supports a rack 16 which is positioned so as to support, in conjunction with guide strip 22c attached to beam 22, the elongated containers while in substantially vertical alignment with folding dies 23a. Shaft 17 is rotatably supported at each end in bearings 17a supported in end frames 10a and 10b and extends through one bearing 17a into key contact with lever 17d radially extended therefrom and engaged by hooks 18c and 18d on the ends of the piston rods of fluid cylinders 18a and 1%, respectively, which by regulation of fluid pressure in each cylinder cause movement of lever 17d to rotate shaft 17 to a predetermined degree to thereby move rack 16 into one of three positions shown in FIGURE 1, i.e., it can be in (1) position 16d for receiving the packed containers, (2) in vertical position, as shown, for the crimping operation, or (3) in forward position 16 for discharge of the finished containers. Cylinders 18a and 18b are yoked together with trunnions supported in frame 10a, as illustrated with reference to FIGURE 17.

Discharge table assembly (FIGURES l, l823) contains table 121 supported in horizontal position in close proximity to anvil shaft 17, in front of rack 16, and at a level so as to receive crimp-closed containers from rack 16 when the latter is tipped forward to dis charge containers therefrom. Cam rod is disposed in fluid tight cylindrical housing 123 coaxial therewith and secured to the lower end closure 124 of said housing to form an annulus 126 with the inner wall of housing 123. The upper end closure 122 of housing 123 is supported in a forward extension 10 of base 10c and serves to tip forward the axis of housing 123 at an angle, of say 16, from the vertical. Cam rod 125 longitudinally extends from lower end closure 124 through at least a major proportion of housing 123. Hollow piston rod, or shaft, 128 is closed at its upper end 129 and is connected at end 129 at an acute angle with table 121 as a support for table 121 outside housing 123 and above end closure 122. Hollow shaft 128 extends coaxially through end closure 122 in fluid tight relationship therewith and into annulus 126 formed by cam rod 125 and housing 123 concentric with and surrounding cam rod 125. Shaft 128 is longitudinally movable in housing 123 through upper closure 122 and along rod 125. Piston 132 is transversely disposed in housing 123 in fluid tight relationship with the inner walls of housing 123 and shaft 128 and is secured to shaft 128, generally to its bottom end, intermediate the said bottom end and the end housing closure 124. In a now preferred form, piston 132 is an enlarged section of the lower end of shaft 128 and is grooved along its outside surface to accommodate seal ring 135 so as to be disposed in fluid tight relationship with the inside wall of housing 123 and is disposed in fluid tight relationship with rod 125. Piston 132 is longitudinally slidable in elongated housing 123. Guide grooves 136 (FIGURES 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23) are disposed along cam rod 125 parallel with the axis of the said rod for a distance generally greater than /2, preferably at least is, the length of the rod, and then along parallel spiral paths toward the upper end 125a of the tact with top closure member rod. Rod elements 138 are transversely secured in piston 132 and extend inwardly into grooves 136 and are supported therein by rollers 139. The grooves 136 are generally disposed along substantially the entire length of cam rod 125, being generally somewhat longer, to the extent required for optimum assembly and operation.

Fluid conduit 133, by way of frame extension extends downwardly through upper closure 122 and lower closure 124, into a lower end of housing 123 at a point below the lowest point of travel of piston 132, intermediate piston 132 and end closure 124, to convey fluid pressure into housing 123 below piston 132. Fluid conduit 134, by way of extension 10] and upper closure 122, extends into the upper end of housing 123 above piston 132 at a point above the highest point of travel of piston 132, intermediate piston 132and closure 122. Fluid pressure applied through conduit 133, while conduit 134 is open to exhaust, acts upon piston 132, piston rod 128 and table 121 causing them to rise, and during ascent they are guided by rollers 139 in grooves 136. For that portion of the ascent that the rollers 139 are in the straight portion of the grooves 136, the table121 is nonrotatable, but as the rollers enter the spiral portion of the grooves 136, the piston 132, rod 128 and table 121 are caused thereby to rotate and to continue to do so, generally until the piston 132 contacts the upper endclosure 122. In a preferred embodiment the rotation will be about and this rotation in conjunction with the angular mounting of the table 121 on piston rod 128 causes the table 121 to dip at one end and rise at the other end so that the table assumes an inclined position at an angle of about 6 to the horizontal, sufficient for any packed containers thereon to roll ofi'. Conversely fluid pressure applied through conduit 134, while conduit 133 is open to exhaust, will reverse the action causing the table 121 to rotate back to normal and descend to its receiving position.

Table 121 is always caused to move to the uppermost position, i.e., so that piston 132 is substantially in con- 122. To receive containers of less than maximum length, the downward travel of the table must sometimes be arrested at less than full stroke. For this purpose a suitable stop for the downward travel of table 121 is provided, such as a split tube 140 (FIG- URES 24 and 25) of requisite length snapped over a POI? tion of the extended rod 128 outside the housing 123 and adjacent closure 122 to limit the downstroke to position the table, at its lowest level, substantially opposite anvil 17 to receive crimped containers from rack 16.

Power to drive the camshaft 141, supported by bearings 149 and carrying cams 142, i.e., cams 1-8, is taken from the main drive shaft 43 by means of chain 143, gear reducer 144 and vertical shaft 146 terminating in one-half of miter gear set 147. The other gear of set 147 is affixed to the driving member of a standard one-revolution clutch 148. An additional stop pin (not shown) added to clutch 148 provides a partial revolution clutch with uneven intervals of 145 and 215. Stoppage of the driven member of the clutch 148 and the camshaft 141, keyed thereto, is by means of the latch pin illustrated only in FIGURE 14.

Unit 101 (FIGURE 1) is a feeder device for supplying empty cylindrical containers to the machine for packing. Feeder 101 comprises hopper 102 with front and back sides 102a and 102b spaced from the bottom side 1020 a distance greater than the outside diameter of the elongated containers to be fed to the machine. Hopper 102 is' supported on legs Nile and slidably mounted on two inclined rails 10d extending rearwardly from frame 10a and 10b and braced on frame 100. The complete unit 101 is slidably mounted on the inclined rails 10d so that it can be moved up and down to suit the elevational adjustment of the platen 11, shuttle and associated structure while being simultaneously moved toward and away from the platen, shuttle and associated structure t accommodate various shell lengths.

The internal surface of the bottom 1020 of hopper 102" is grooved in a direction towards shuttle 30 so as to accept elongated containers and deliver same lengthwise into shuttle 30 via openings 30a. Fingers 103, aligned with grooves 102d in the bottom 1020 of hopper 102, are disposed rearwardly of hopper 102 and together with piston rod 105 of fluid cylinder 106 are secured in parallel to tie bar 104 so that when fluid pressure in cylinder 106 is regulated to longitudinally move rod 105, fingers 103 are caused to move horizontally so as to displace containers from the grooved hopper bottom to the shuttle, or so as to move away from the emptied grooves as the case may be.

Each fluid tight cylinder 48 (FIGURES 1, 2, 11 and 12) is closed at its bottom end 48:: and top end 48d, respectively, by closure heads 48a and 48b. Piston 49 in cylinder 48 is slidable therein and is maintained in fluid tight relation with the cylinder walls by ring seals 49a and 4%. Rod 44 within cylinder 48 is connected with the end 49c of piston 43, generally axially, and extends from piston end 49c through closure head 48a outward and downward. Rod 44a within cylinder 48 is connected with the end 49d of piston 49, generally axially, and extends from the piston end 43d through closure head 48b outward and upward.

Port 50 in an upper side wall of cylinder 48 (FIGURES 1, 2, ll, 12) is connected with an outside fluid source by means of manifold 51 and is located generally in close proximity to closure head 4812 but, in any event, always in direct communication with the interior of cylinder 48 and the end 49d of piston 43. Preferably, closure head 48b acts as a stop for piston 49 to prevent passage to a point such that seal 43a would cross port 50.

Port 53 in a lower side wall of cylinder 48 is connected with an outside fluid source by means of manifold 54 and is disposed in close proximity to seal 49a, but between seals 49a and 49b of piston 49, when piston 49 is in its lowermost position in cylinder 48, generally abutted against closure head 48a.

Groove 73 in rod 44 extends from piston end 49c along rod 44 for a distance sufficiently great that it affords direct communication between the interior of cylinder 48, below piston 49, and beyond seal during that portion of the downward travel of piston 49 toward cylinder closure 48a when seal 4% has passed port 53. Thus, during the downward travel of piston 49, groove 73 serves to vent cylinder 48 of fluid that would otherwise be trapped therein when seal 4% passes port 53. Likewise, when piston 49 is started upward toward cylinder closure 48!: as described hereinafter, groove 73 provides access of fluid along rod 44 through seal 75 into cylinder 48 below piston 49 until seal 4% has passed port 53, after which time the only fluid admitted into the space below piston 49 in cylinder 48 is through port 53.

An orificed cam member 56 (FIGURES 1, 2, l1, l2 and 13), outside and above cylinder 48, is slidably mounted on an extension 483 of closure head 48b and is freely movable upwardly. It is adapted to be pushed slightly upward and away from cylinder 48 by the outer end of rod 44a engaging extensions 58 when rod 44a is fully extended from cylinder 48 by the movement of piston 49 toward closure head 48b and substantially in contact therewith. Cam member 56 is adapted to be moved slightly downward toward cylinder 48 by nut 57 near the end of rod 4411 when the piston 43 is extended toward closure head 48a and substantially in contact therewith.

Near the lower extremity of cam member 56 is an extended cam member portion 59 which, as cam member 56 is moved toward cylinder 48, engages bar cam member 60 attached to a rotatable shaft 61 mounted in hearing members 62. Bar cam 60 is of such length (FIG- URE 13) as to be engaged by each extended portion 59 of each cam member 56, one for each cylinder 48. On one end of shaft 61 is mounted a lever 63 (FIGURE 12) which engages the stem of a spring-loaded normally open,

two-way valve NO-2W-3, shown in the control system diagram of FIGURE 14. As shown in FIGURE 12, the stem 79a of NO-ZW-3 79, being spring-loaded, outwardly engages the end of lever 63 and has the eifect of turning shaft 61 to rotate clockwise. When each cam member 56 is brought downward, the beveled faces of extended portions 59 engage bar cam member 60 and the combined forces rotate shaft 61 counterclockwise against the pressure of the spring in valve 79. As extended portion 59 continues downward, the tip of the bar cam member 60 rides oif the bevel of portion 59 onto its flat vertical face. This, in effect, locks bar cam 60 against any slight movement of portion 59 such as might result from the reciprocating motion of the entire crosshead member 42 and against slight movements of rods 44a. The counterclockwise rotation of shaft 61 and lever 63 also acting on1 valve NO-ZW-3 serves to close that normally open va ve.

Until all piston cylinder assemblies have operated to remove extended portions 59 from contact with bar cam 60, shaft 61 remains stationary inasmuch as bar 60 is not movable until all beveled elements 59' have been moved from contact with it. Thus when the extended portion 59 of the last unit to operate clears and releases bar cam 60, that member, shaft 61 and lever 63 are all free to rotate and they do rotate clockwise by the force of the spring valve 79, the valve then opening to function in the automatic control system.

The machine of FIGURES 1 through 26 operates as an automatic device to feed, load, crimp and discharge finished containers under control of a suitable system for maintaining the necessary sequence of operation of the machine elements, preferably a timing mechanism in conjunction with the fluid stream flows associated with the various fluid cylinders above described. However, any suitable control mechanism other than that specifically illustrated, such as one utilizing time-delay or sequence valves, can be utilized to maintain the necessary operating sequence of the machine elements in the practice of the invention.

The now preferred timing system is illustrated with reference to the drawings and with especial reference to a diagrammatically shown air control circuit of FIGURE 14. FIGURE 14 shows the control circuit at a point after a last load of shells has been packed with a fluent solid material, crimped and discharged and the machine has come to rest. Thus, as shown with reference to FIGURE 1, the machine shell feeder fingers 103 are retracted, the shuttle 30 is down in back and horizontal position I, the platen 11 is in its down position, the crimper rack 16 is in its vertical position, the crimper unit 19 is up, the tamp rods 45 are in the retracted or short position, and the cams 142 are stationary with the second stop pin of the partial revolution clutch against the extended latch pin, not shown but illustrated with reference to FIGURE 14. In starting the machine, which is done by operating the stop-start valve, it is assumed that (1) the machine elements for the given size, diameter and length of explosive cartridges or packed containers to be produced are in place, i.e., such as tamp rods 45, nipple plate 40, shuttle 30, shell-feeder unit 101, crimper rack 16, crimper fold dies 23a and pins 24; (2) the central structure 107 carrying the platen 11 and shuttle 30 has been adjusted to the proper distance below the nipples 39 for the length of the cartridge to be produced; (3) the shell-feeder unit 101 has been adjusted on its inclined rails d (45") to properly feed shells to the shuttle and (4) the downward travel of the discharge tray 121 has been limited to the proper height toreceive the given length of cartridge when discharged by the crimper rack 16.

In FIGURE 14 full lines indicate pressurized air of say about 60 p.s.i., dot and dash lines indicate lower pressure air of say about 30 p.s.i., and dotted lines indicate air lines open to exhaust. Valve symbols NO and NC 1 2 designate, respectively, normally open and normally closed; 2W, SW and 4W designate two-way, three-Way and four-way valves. The conventional symbol for manually operated and cam operated three-way valves is used.

With shells in place in hopper 102 of the shell-feeder unit 101, the main drive shaft 43 rotating to reciprocate the crosshead unit 42 with tamps retracted as shown in FIGURES 10-1 and l02, and the stirrers 41 rotating in synchronisrn with the crosshead unit, the conveyor belt 38a is started to feed powder to the hopper 38 followed by setting the main control valve at Start. At once the platen 11 goes up, the shuttle 30 retracts to position 11 and then by means of arms 31 moves to position III, but at the same time the latch pin is withdrawn and the cams start rotating. This initial action takes place because the Start valve exhausts air from the pilot of four-way valve 4W-9 which reverses by spring action and on reversing sends pressurized air to the manifold serving pilot valvesPV-8, PV-i, PV- l, PV-S and PV-6. As PV'-8 and PV-t are closed, no air passes them. However, PV-l is open and passes air to the pilot of 4W4 which reverses and sends air through A1 to cylinders 13 which operate to send the platen 11 up. PV=1 also passes air to reverse 3W-5, but with results to be described with PV-5 and 4W'5. As PV-4 also is open it passes air to the pilot of 4W-4 which reverses and passes air through A7 to cylinder 33 which operates to retract shuttle 30 to position II. Also PV-S is open and passes air to the pilot of 4W-5 which reverses and passes air through A3 to cylinders 34 which operate to send the shuttle 30 up to position III. When 4W-5 is reversed it exhausts, by way of line A10 and 3W5, the air from the pilot of NO-3W3 which then opens to let pressurized air flow to the single acting latch pin cylinder to thereby withdraw the latch pin from engagement with the second pin of the partial revolution clutch on the camshaft and cause the camshaft to start to rotate.

With the start of the camshaft the machine is on its automatic cycle, but on the first cycle no action takes place except for the starting of the first batch of shells, as above described. The following description, then, corresponds with the second cycle which follows the cams through 'a full revolution of 360 as described below with reference to FIGURE 15 At approximately index 10 cam one allows PV-l to close which exhausts the pilot of 4W-1 which reverses, by spring return, and passes air through line A2 to cylinders 13 which operate to lower the platen 11. Air from line A2 also goes to line 133 to lower the discharge table 121. PV-l also exhausts air from one pilot of 3W-5 but that valve remains unchanged.

At index 15 cam three allows PV-3 to close which exhausts the pilot of 4W3 which reverses and passes air through A6 to cylinder 18a which operates to bring the crimper rack 16 back to receiving position 16b.

When the platen 11 is lowered, the loaded shells break away from the nipples 39, leaving packed cores therein, and settle down through the loosely confining shuttle 30 to rest on the platen 11 again. Allowing time for this to happen, the next cam action is at index 40 when cam four allows PV-4 to close which exhausts the pilot of 4W4 which reverses and passes air through line A8 to operate cylinder 33 which extends shuttle 30 to position IV. This action swings the lower ends of the packed shells out beyond the front edge of the platen 11 and they slide out of the shuttle 30 and are caught by and come to rest on the crimper rack 16 in position 16b.

Allowing time for the loaded shells to clear the shuttle 30 at index cam three opens PV-3 and cam five allows PV5 to close. When PV-3 opens it passes air to the pilot of 4W-3 which reverses and passes air through line A5 to cylinder 18a which operates to swing the crimper rack 16 to a vertical position under the crimper unit 19. When PV-5 closes it exhausts air from the pilot of 4W'-5 which reverses and passes air through line A to cylinders 34 which operate to bring the shuttle 30 down and back to horizontal position I in line with the shell-feeder unit 101; at the same time air from line A10 passes through 3W-5 to the pilot of NO-3W3 whichcloses and exhausts air from the latch pin cylinder (not shown) allowing the latch pin to extend to later engage the first-[stop pin on the partial revolution clutch. I

Allowing tirnefor the crimper rack 16 to assume its vertical position at index 120, cam seven opens PV-7 and passes air to the pilot of 4W-7 which reverses and passes air through line A13 to cylinders 28 which operate through levers 29c pivoted through synchronizing shaft 29 and pull-rods 20 to pull down the pin beam 21 and thus the entire crimping unit 19. Suspended below pin beam 21 by means of hanger bolts 22b in folder beam 22, 'and'acting to hold the two beams apart within the limit of the hanger b-olts 22b, are the piston rods 26a with their pistons 26 within air cylinders 25, these cylinders being supplied with a constant source of pressurized air so that they act as springs with a uniform deflection rate.- Attached to the front face of folder beam 22 is a serrated stop and guidance strip 22a which had previously engaged the upper ends above the powder line of the packed shells, when they were brought forward by the crimper rack 16. Also imbedded in the lower face of-folder beam 22- are the'folder dies 23a, and below thebeam the guide strip 22e supports the open ends of the packed shells in line with the dies'23a. As pin beam 21 is pulled down, folder beam 22 is forced down ahead of itand the dies 23a engage the open ends of the shells and bend these ends inward in a star-like pattern to cover the packed powder. The downward travel of the dies 23a, if too great, would crush the packed shells so this travelis limited by the stops 9 which engage the ends of the folder beam 22. Imbedded in the lower face of the pin beam 21 are pins24 which project downward across the gap between the two beams 21 and 22 and through holes in folder beam 22 to just enter the dies 23a. As the downward travel of the folder beam 22 is interrupted by the stops 9, the pin beam 21 continues downward against the air pressure within cylinders 25 acting against pistons 26 and piston rods 26a. As the pin beam continues downward, the pins 24 engage the folded-in top of the shells to flatten the folds and depress them slightly to complete thec-rirnping operation and to complete the production of the cartridges.

Meanwhile, at index 130 cam six opens PV-6 passing air to the pilot of 4W- 6 which reverses and passes air I through line All to cylinder 106 of the shell feeder unit 101, said cylinder operating to move forward the fingers 103 which push forward the lower layer of empty shells in feeder hopper 102 so that they enter shuttle 30.

At index 145 just after the shell feeder fingers 103 have started, but before they have had time to complete their stroke, the cams stop rotating through the engagement of the latch pin and the first stop pin on the partialrevolution clutch. This stop is advantageous inasmuch as due to wax-stuck or crossed shells the shell-feeder may be unable to complete its stroke, and in that event the pause enables the operator to clear the blockage. However, when the stroke is complete, finger bar extension 150 opens valve NC-SW-6 allowing air from line All to pass through to line A and on to one pilot of 3W5 which closes and exhausts air from the pilot of NO-3W-3 which opens and passes air to the latch pin cylinder, withdrawing the latch pin and allowing the cams to rotate a am.

At index 160 cams six and seven allow the closing of PV6 and PV7. ,As PV-7 closes, it exhausts air from the pilot of 4W-7 which reverses and passes air through line A14 to cylinders 28 which operate through levers 29c-and rods to raise the crimper unit 19.

As PV-6 closes, it exhausts air from the pilot of 4W-6 which reverses and passes air through line A12 to cylinder 106 which operates to send the shell-feeder fingers 103 back which allows the empty shells in the hopper 102 to settle in the grooves in front of the fingers 103.

Allowing time for the shell-feeder fingers 103 to retract away from the shells in the shuttle 30 at index c'arn four opens PV-4 which passes air to the pilot of 4W-4 which reverses and passes air through line A7 to cylinder 33 which operates to retract shuttle 30 to position 11. At index cam five opens PV-S which passes air to the pilot of 4W-5 which reverses and passes air through line A9 to cylinders 34 which operate through arms 31 to raise shuttle 30 to position III, depositing the empty shells in a vertical position on the platen 11 directly below the nipples 39.

Meanwhile, at index 200 cam two opens PV-2 which passes air to the pilot of 4W-2 which reverses and passes air through line A3 to cylinder 18b which operates to swing the crimper rack 16 forward to position 16] where it discharges the finished cartridges side by side onto the discharge tray 121. At index 220 cam two allows PV-2 to close and it exhausts the pilot of 4W-2 which reverses again and passes air through line A4 to cylinder 18b which operates to bring the crimper rack 16 back to the vertical position where it will be out of the way of the shells on the discharge table 121 When the table rises.

Allowing time for the shuttle'30 to have deposited the empty shells on the platen 11 and for them to have settled on platen 11 at index 220, cam one opens PV-1 which passes air to the pilot of 4W-1 which reverses and passes air through line A1 to the cylinders 13 which operate to raise the platen 11 a distance sufiicient to push the empty shells upward within the loose confines of the shuttle 30 so that their open ends embrace the nipples 39. At the same time air from line A1 also goes to line 134- to raise the discharge table 121.

With the shells engaging the nipples 39 at index 240 cam eight opens PV-S which passes air to the pilot of NO3W-2 which closes to shut off" the line from NO- 2W3 and exhaust air from one pilot of 2W-4. Air from PV-S goes to the other pilot of 2W-4 which opens and passes air through line A16 to the vibrator 15 causing piston 15a to operate to vibrate the platen 11 and the shells standing thereon. NO-3W-2 when closed also exhausts, by way of open NO-3W3, the latch pin cylinder. This allows the latch pin to extend to position to later intercept the second stop pin on the partial-revolution clutch.

Air through PV-S also passes to the pilot of NO-3W-1 which closes and exhausts air by way of ports 53 from beneath the pistons 49 of the tamp cylinders 48 on the crosshead 42. Also, NO-SW-l exhausts air from the pilot of NO-2W1 which closes to terminate the supply of low pressure air by way of port 50 to above the pistons 49; and also exhausts air from the pilot of NO2W-2 which opens and passes high pressure air through port 50 to above the pistons 49. With no pressure below and high pressure above, all pistons 49 move downward within the cylinders 48 and, in effect, lengthen the tamp rods 45 so that as the crosshead 42 strokes up and down, the range of the tamp tips 46 is from just above the line of the powder in the hopper 38, downward, to just through the nipples 39 as shown in FIGURES 10-3 and 10-4. On the first such stroke downward, the tamp tips 46 knock the packed cores of powder out of the nipples 39 into the waiting shells below, and each succeeding stroke downward pushes more powder through the nipples into the shells. Meanwhile, the conveyor belt 38ais delivering more powder to the hopper 3S and the stirrers 41 keep feeding powder to the space above the nipples 39 as fast as the tamp tips 46 push it through the nipples 39.

- As each tamp is lengthened by air forcing each piston 49 down within the cylinders 48, the nuts 57 on the upper ends of rods 44a engage and carry downward the cam members 56 whose extensions 59 engage bar cam member 60 attached to shaft 61 and rotate it, slightly, in a counterclockwise direction (FIGURES 11-13). At one end of shaft 61 is a lever 63 that engages the actuating stem of valve NO2W-3 and as shaft and lever rotate, they cause valve NO2W3 to close against the resistance of an internal spring. There is a slight overtravel in the downward movement of cam member 56 and its extension 59 with relation to the tip of bar cam member 66 which serves to keep these parts in engagement later when the building of cores in the nipples 39 will cause short upward separations of the nuts 57 from the cam members 56.

Allowing time for the tamps backed by high pressure air to have knocked out all cores, a matter of one or two full strokes, at index 350, cam eight allows PVS to close and exhaust one pilot of 2W-4 but that valve remains open and continues to pass air through line A16 to the vibrator 15. On closing, PV-S also exhausts air from the pilot of NO-3W-1 which opens and passes hi h pressure air to the ports 53 of tamp cylinders 48 but as these ports 53 are straddled by the O-ring seals of piston 49, the pressure is equation the two seals and no movement of piston 49 results. PV-ii also exhausts the pilot of NO3W2 which opens to clear the line from closed NO-ZW-S through open NO3W3 to the latch pin cylinder for later use.

The cams coast to the end of one complete revolution to index and are stopped by the second pin on the partial-revolution clutch contacting the extended latch pm.

The machine is now in the packing portion of its cycle with the tamps forcing powder through the nipples and into the shells, and vibration, transmitted through the platen to the shells, serves to pack the powder to the required density. Any resistance the tamp tips may encounter in pushing the powder through the nipples is overcome by the force of the low pressure air entering port 50 above the piston 49. I

As the level of the powder in'each shell rises, it eventually reaches the nipple and will continue to rise filling the nipple to form a core therein. But as the nipple is within the stroke of the tamp tip, the tamp tip 46, the tamp stick 45, the piston rod 44 and 44a and piston 49 will all be forced back, at the bottom of each stroke, a distance equal to the core build-up in the nipple 39 as shown in FIGURE 5. As the piston 49 is pushed upward at the bottom of each core-building stroke, the lower seal ring 4% on the piston 49 approaches closer and closer to high pressure port 53 until finally as the nipple is filled, this seal ring 4% passes port 53 and high ressure air entering therein works against the underside of the piston 49 to overcome the force of the low pressure r air above the piston with the result that the piston quickly rises to the limit of its upward travel within cylinder 43. The effect of this is to shorten the tamp so that the range of the tamp tips stroke, or travel, will be entirely above the level of the powder in the hopper 38 (FIGURES 10-1 and 10-2).

Although all shells would be expected to be filled during the same time interval and all tamps shortened during the same time, there is usually a variation of two or three strokes. As each tamp does become shortened, the upper end of rod 44a contacts the upper overhang S8 of cam member 56 and raises the entire cam member 56 slightly so that extension 59 is moved out of contact with the tip of bar cam 60 and, in effect, releases that member 60.

When the last tamp is shortened and the last extension 59 releases bar cam 60 that cam and shaft 61 are free and they rotate clockwise under the force of the spring in valve NO-ZW-fi, the valve stem and lever 63 on the end of shaft 61. When released, NO-ZW-S opens and passes air through NO-3W2 and NO3W-3 to the latch pin cylinder which operates to withdraw latch pin and the cams start rotating. The cycle is then repeated.

When at the end of a run it is required to stop the machine, the manually controlled stop-start valve should be turned to Stop" during the packing portion of the cycle of what is to be the last batch of shells. The operation of this valve sets up an open line from the currently exhausted line A10 to the pilot of 4W-9. After the shells currently being packed have been packed and are dropped out of the shuttle, the next cam action closes PVS. When PV-S closes it exhausts air from the pilot of 4W-5 which reverses and passes air through line A10 to cylinders 34 which operate to bring the shuttle 30 to position I. At the same time air from A10 passes through 3W-5 to the pilot of NO-3W3 which closes and exhausts air from the latch pin cylinder allowing latch pin to extend to later engage the first stop pin. Also, air from A10 passes through the stop-start valve to the pilot of 4W-9 which reverses and exhausts air from the manifold serving pilot valves PVS, PV -l, PV4, PVS and PV6. Next cam seven opens PV7 and passes air through line A13 to, as previously explained, bring down crimping unit 19. Next cam six opens PV"-6, but with the manifold exhausted no air passes through PV-6 and the shell-feeder does not operate. Next the first stop pin contacts the latch pin and the cams stop rotating. With the shell-feeder inactivated the machine stops with the crimper unit 19 down on the crimped cartridges. To release the crimper 19, another manually operated valve has been provided and now turning this valve to crimper release will briefly allow air from 4W-9 to pass to the latch pin cylinder (not shown) to withdraw the latch pin and allow the cams to proceed. Cam seven will then close PV7, and 4W-7 will reverse sending the crimper unit up. Cam eight will open and close PV-8 but with no air in the manifold, nothing happens and since the crimper-rel'ease valve was opened only briefly, its return to normal again exhausts air from the latch pin cylinder and the latch pin extends and its contact by the second stop pin will stop the cams and the machine will have stopped with the control again as shown in FIGURE 14.

As disclosed in the above referred to application Serial No. 134,530, now abandoned, it has been discovered that the packing of materials into containers at high uniform density is best effected by means of vibratory movement in which the power stroke in each oscillation is applied in only one direction. Thus, in the embodiment of the invention it is preferred to employ a vibrator in which the power stroke of the piston is in the upward direction and the piston is allowed to fall free after each power stroke, cushioned only by the air escaping during the exhaust stroke. For many materials, particularly the lighter materials, the frequency of vibration is quite important to obtaining optimum results. Thus, it is often desirable to employ different vibratory frequencies when packing different types of materials. To obviate the necessity of changing vibrators, it is often desirable to use a vibrator with a controllable frequency such as that disclosed in US. 2,609,791. Although electric and hydraulic vibrators may be employed, if desired, best results are obtainable with pneumatic vibrators. From the standpoint of safety it is not desirable to employ an electric vibrator for the packing of explosives. Pneumatic vibrators are generally preferred over hydraulic vibrators due to the fact that the pneumatic vibrator is generally characterized by a higher frequency which is usually necessary to satisfactorily pack most materials from both the standpoint of ultimate density and the time required to reach that density.

In FIGURE 26 is shown a part sectional, part elevational view of a pneumatic vibrator having a unidirectional power stroke which can be utilized as a platen vibrator in accordance with the invention, e.g., as vibrator 15 of FIGURE 1. A reciprocable piston is disposed in a cylinder 81 formed by a casing 82. The lower portion of the casing 82 is formed by a cylinder head 83 which is held in airtight relationship to the remainder of the casing 82 by a gasket 84- and studs 85. An annulus 86 is formed in the wall of the cylinder at a point equidistant from the ends thereof. Passages 87 and 88 are formed 1 7 in the outer periphery of piston 80 at points which register with the center of annulus 86 when the piston 80 is alternately at the end of either its exhaust or power stroke. A duct 89 leads from the passage 87 through the piston 80 to the bottom of piston 80. A duct 90 leads from the passage 88 through the piston 80 to the top of the piston 80. Duct 90 is plugged with a threaded plug 91. Exhaust ports 92 and 93 are disposed in the wall of the cylinder at a point equidistant from the ends of the cylinder. The distance between the exhaust ports 92 and 93 is such that during reciprocation one end of the piston begins to cover one exhaust port just as the opposite end of the piston begins to uncover the other exhaust port. A threaded air inlet port 94 (see line A16 of FIGURE 2) is disposed in one side of the casing 82 and leads into the annulus 86. A threaded air inlet port 95 is disposed in the opposite side of the casing 80 and also leads into the annulus 86.

A threaded plug 96 is disposed in the air inlet port 95.

The vibrator shown in FIGURE 26 operates as follows. Pressurized air is introduced through air inlet 94 and flows into annulus 86 into the passage 87 and through duct 89 to the bottom of the cylinder 81. The piston 80 is forced upwardly by the pressurized air until the passage 87 travels beyond the annulus 86 and the exhaust port 92 is uncoveredby the bottom of the piston '80. The upward stroke of the piston 80 is cushioned somewhat by the air cushion formed in the upper part of the cylinder 81 once the upper portion of the piston 80 has closed off the exhaust port 93. At the completion of its upward power stroke the piston 80 falls freely with its downward fall being cushioned by the air cushion formed when the lower portion of the piston closes the exhaust port 92. As soon as the passage 87 again registers with the annulus 86, air is again admitted to the bottom of the cylinder 81. The duct 90 and passage 88 leading to the top of the piston 80 from the annulus 86 are provided to allow use of the vibrator shown with a power stroke in the opposite direction when the duct 89 is plugged and the duct 90 is unplugged. If both ducts are left unplugged, a conventional two-way power stroke is obtained. The passages 96, 97 and 98 which are plugged by studs 95, 99 and 100, respectively, are provided for attachment of a frequency control valve such as that shown in U.S. 2,609,791. While it is generally desirable to employ a pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric vibrator to impart the necessary vibratory movement to the platen, the desired movement may be generated by other mechanical means.

It will be seen, therefore, that in accordance with the invention it is now possible to produce uniformly loaded containers which are characterized by considerable length and a relatively small diameter. For example, in packing explosives excellent results have been obtained with both free-flowing granular powders and semigelatinous compositions in cartridges from 1% to 2 inches in di ameter and from 12 to 24 inches in length. However, the invention is clearly not limited in application to the packing of such containers, since it is apparent that it exhibits equal utility in the packing of any type of container. While the invention has been particularly described with respect to its application and utility in the explosives fie1d,'it is to be understood that the apparatus 1 and process are equally applicable to other materials.

Since various modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art which do not depart from the generic nature of the invention, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent 1s:

1. Apparatus for filling and packing fluent solid materials into a container, which comprises in combination a platen, and means associated with said platen for supporting an open-end container thereon; vibrator means,

' associated with said platen, adapted to cause said platen to vibrate so as to impart vibration to said container when supported thereon; nipple means disposedabove said platen and adapted to convey flow of fluent solids toward said platen; means for disposing said platen in operative position with said nipple so as to engage said nipple with said open end of said container supported on said platen, to thereby provide for flow of fluent solids from said nipple into said container; means for actuating said vibrator means to effect vibration of said platen When said platen is in said operative position; a reciprocating rod extending into said nipple and adapted by its reciprocation to force fluent solids through said nipple when said nipple and said container are in said operative position; and means for reciprocating said rod and for maintaining the resulting stroke such that the end of said rod cannot extend substantially beyond the egress orifice of the nipple.

2. in a packing machine for filling and packing materials into containers, the combination comprising a platen and means associated with said platen for supporting an open-end container thereon; a vibrator associated with said platen adapted to cause said platen to vibrate so as to impart vibration to said container when supported thereon; a hopper disposed above the platen; means for introducing fluent solids into said hopper; at least one nipple opening into said hopper through its bottom side adapted to convey flow of fluent solids from said hopper; means for disposing said platen in operative position with said hopper so as to engage said nipple with said open end of said container supported on said platen to thereby provide for flow of solids from said hopper into said container; means for actuating said vibrator to effect vibration of said platen when said platen is in said operative position; a reciprocable rod extending through said hopper into said nipple and adapted by its reciprocation to force solids through said nipple from said hopper when said nipple and said container are in said operative position; means for reciprocating said rod and for maintaining the resulting stroke such that the end of said rod cannot extend substantially beyond the egress orifice of the nipple.

3. A machine according to claim 2 in which the recipro- -cable rod is yieldably mounted to permit longitudinal movement of the rod.

4. In a packing machine for filling and packing materials into a container, the combination comprising a platen movable into upper and lower positions as described hereinafter; resilient support means for said platen; a vibrator rigidly mounted on said platen and adapted to vibrate said platen; a hopper disposed above the platen; means for introducing flowable solids into said hopper; means for moving said platen from one of said positions to the other; at least one nipple opening into said hopper through its bottom side and adapted to convey flow of fluent solids from said hopper; means associated with said platen for nonrigidly supporting an open-topped elongated container on said platen in an upright position; means for raising said platen into said upper position and for then engaging the open top of the said container with said nipple when said container is supported on said platen; means for actuating said vibrator to cause said platen to vibrate and impart vibration to said container when supported thereon, when said platen is raised to engage said container with said nipple, so as to provide for flow of solids through said nipple into said container while said container is in a state of vibration; a reciprocable rod extending through said hopper into said nipple and adapted to reciprocate so as to force solids into and through said nipple, into said container, when said nipple is engaged with said container; and means for reciprocating said rod and for maintaining the resulting stroke such that the end of said rod cannot extend substantially beyond the egress orifice of the nipple.

5. A packing machine of claim 4 wherein said nipple is adapted to extend into said open end of said elongated upright container when said container is supported on said platen in said upper position; means responsive to an accumulation of solids in said nipple for terminating operation of said vibrator and for then moving said platen to said lower position; means for then effecting removal of said container from said platen; means for reloading said supporting means with another said container when the first said container is removed as described; means for crimping the open end of said container when removed from said platen; and means adapted to receive the container removed from said platen and for maintaining the container thus removed in operative relation with said crimping means to effect crimping of said container.

6. A machine according to claim 4 in which the reciprocable rod is yieldably mounted to permit longitudinal movement of the rod.

7. A machine according to claim 4 in which the power stroke of the vibrator is applied only in an upward direction.

8. In a packing machine for filling and packing materials into containers, the combination comprising a platen movable into upper and lower positions as described hereinafter; resilient means for supporting said platen; a vibrator rigidly mounted on said platen and adapted to vibrate said platen, when actuated; means for moving said platen from one of said positions to the other; a hopper disposed above the platen, means for introducing fluent solids into said hopper; at least one nipple opening into said hopper through its bottom side and adapted to convey flow of fluent solids from said hopper; means associated with said platen for supporting an open-topped elongated container on said platen in an upright position and so as to be capable of free vertical movement at all times; means for raising said platen into said upper position and for then engaging the open top of the said container with said nipple when said container is supported on said platen; means for actuating said vibrator to cause said platen to vibrate and impart vibration to said container when supported thereon, when said platen is raised to engage said container with said nipple, so as to provide for flow of solids through said nipple into said container while said container is in a state of vibration; a reciprocable rod extending through said hopper into said nipple and adapted to reciprocate to force solids into and through said nipple when said platen is raised to engage said nipple with said container; at reciprocable crosshead assembly disposed above said hopper and connecting with said rod, and means for reciprocating said crosshead; said crosshead being adapted, when reciprocating, to cause reciprocation of said rod; and means for maintaining the resulting stroke of said rod such that the end of said rod cannot extend substantially beyond the egress orifice of the nipple.

9. A machine of claim 8 wherein said crosshead assembly comprises a frame; an upright fluid tight cylinder secured to said frame; a rod substantially axially disposed within said cylinder and extending through the ends of said cylinder in fluid tight relationship therewith, a piston, within said cylinder, rigidly disposed about said rod in sealed relationship therewith and in slidable sealed relationship with the cylinder walls; a first conduit opening into said cylinder at a point at all times above the top end of said piston therein; a second conduit opening into said cylinder, through a side wall thereof, at a point closed by said piston when said piston is in a lower portion of said cylinder; means for introducing fluid into said cylinder from said first conduit at a predetermined constant pressure; means for introducing fluid into said cylinder from said second conduit at a pressure higher than that from said first conduit; said rod, extending downwardly from said cylinder into said nipple in axial alignment therewith, to engage the work, when said piston is in said position to close said second conduit; said rod being longitudinally movable in an upward direction from its working position in said nipple, in response to an accumulation of solids in said nipple, a distance sufficient to move said piston upwardly out of said closing contact with said second conduit, whereby fluid can be delivered from said second conduit against the bottom of said piston, at a pressure higher than that delivered from said first conduit, to cause said piston to continue its upward movement; said cylinder being of suificient length to permit said piston to move upwardly, from its above said position for closing said conduit, so as to move said rod from said nipple and thereby from said work; means for venting air pressure, after a predetermined time, from below said piston when said piston is in position for holding said rod from the work so as to cause said piston, in response to constant fluid pressure from said first conduit, to move downwardly into the above said position for closing said second conduit, whereby said rod is returned to said axial alignment in said nipple to be in contact with the work.

10. A packing machine especially suitable for packing a plurality of cartridges with explosive powder, comprising a platen, movable into upper and lower positions as described hereinafter; vibrator means associated with said platen adapted to vibrate said platen; means for moving said platen into said upper position; a hopper disposed above said platen; means for introducing powder into said hopper; a nipple plate containing a plurality of nipples and forming at least a portion of the bottom side of said hopper and adapted to convey flow of powder through said nipples from said hopper; stirring means in said hopper adapted to agitate powder therein so as to direct flow of same to said nipples; support means adapted to nonrigidly maintain said cartridges with open top in an upright position on said platen, and also adapted to maintain each cartridge in axially aligned contact with a nipple of said hopper when said platen is moved to said upper position to receive flow of powder from said nipple; a plurality of reciprocable rods extending through said hopper, each in axial alignment with a nipple of 'said plate; means for reciprocating said rods; means for continuously shortening the effective stroke of each said rod responsive to accumulation of powder in the nipple through which it extends, each said rod at maximum stroke extending not substantially beyond the egress orifice of the nipple; means responsive to a predetermined accumulation of powder in the last of said nipples to accumulate such an amount, for terminating operation of said vibrator and moving said platen into said lower position; means for then effecting removal of said plurality of cartridges from said platen; means for reloading said supporting means with another plurality of cartridges after removal of the first said plurality therefrom, as above described; said reloading being adapted to be effected during termination of said vibrator and while said platen is in said lower position; and timing means for concurrently causing the reloaded platen to raise to said upper position and said vibrating means to be initiated; and means for then establishing a maximum stroke of said rod.

11. A machine for packing a plurality of cartridges with explosive powder comprising a platen, elongated and substantially horizontally disposed, and movable into lower and upper positons; a vibrator rigidly mounted on said platen and adapted to impart vibration to said platen, when actuated to vibrate; means for moving said platen from said lower position into said upper position; a hopper disposed above said platen; a nipple plate, containing a plurality of nipples extending therethrough and forming at least a portion of the bottom side of said hopper, and adapted to convey flow of powder through said nipples from said hopper; stirring means in said hopper adapted to agitate powder in said hopper so as to direct flow of said powder to said nipples; a shuttle device elongated and of length about the same as that of said platen, pivotally mounted horizontally above said platen and adapted to be pivotally moved away from 21 said platen; said shuttle being adapted to nonrigidly support said plurality of cartridges in an upright open-top position on said platen, and to support each cartridge in axially aligned engagement with a nipple of said hopper when said platen is moved to said upper position, so as to convey flow of powder from said nipples into said cartridges during vibration of said cartridges; means adapted to pivotally move the lower end of said shuttle when said platen is initially lowered from said upper position, so as to permit filled cartridges to fall from said shuttle, and then for pivotally moving said shuttle to a position away from said platen while also further moving the lower end of said shuttle to substantially dispose same horizontally to be reloaded with cartridges, and for then pivotally moving said shuttle, and also its lower end, back to said supporting position above said platen; means described hereinafter for then raising said platen and again initiating vibration of same; a plurality of reciproca-ble rods extending through said hopper, each disposed in axial alignment with a nipple of said plate; a crosshead element disposed above said hopper; a plurality of cylinders attached to said crosshead and adapted to reciprocate with said crosshead; each of said plurality rods extending from said hopper longitudinally through one of said cylinders; a piston aifixed to said "rod in each of said'cylindersadapted tomove in response to applied air pressure to thereby move said rod; means for applying air pressure to said cylinder above said piston and for applying a higher air pressure in said cylinder below said piston; each said piston being adapted in communication with the lower pressure air, only, when said platen is raised to engage said nipples with said cartridges and when there is no accumulation of powder in the nipple; the stroke of each said rod adapted to progressively shorten in response to accumulation of powder in each said nipple, and said piston being adapted to rise toward communication with the higher pressure air in said cylinder in response to said accumulation of powder, and to be in direct communication with said high pressure air when there has been a shortening of said stroke responsive to a predetermined accumulation of powder in said nipple so as to force said piston to raise to move said rod out of said nipple; means for lowering said platen and terminating operation of said vibrator in response to said action of high pressure air on the last one of the said pistons to be raised as above described; means for retaining said high pressure contact with each said piston for a predetermined time to efiect unloading and reloading of cartridges while said platen is in said lower position; and means for moving said shuttle to said platen, and for raising said platen and initiating vibration of said platen at the expiration of said predetermined time; and the stroke of each said rod during reciprocation being such that the end thereof cannot extend substantially beyond the egress orifice of the nipple.

12. A crosshead assemblyfor a packing machine which comprises a frame; a fluid-tight cylinder rigidly secured to the frame; means for reciprocating the frame, and thereby the cylinder; a reciproca-ble rod passing longitudinally through the cylinder and sealing means disposed between rod and cylinder adjacent each end of the cylinder; a piston mounted on the rod within the cylinder and disposed in sealed, slidable relationship within the cylinder walls; a first port in a side wall of said cylinder for introducing pressurized fluid into one end of the cylinder, a second port in the side wall of the cylinder for introducing pressurized fluid into the other end of the cylinder, and means for introducing fluid through each of the said ports into said cylinder; said piston being movable in said cylinder, in said slidable relationship, to a position adjacent the second port so as to then close same and prevent fluid flow through the second port and being movable from said closing position, in said slidable relationship, toward said first port but short of closing same; said piston, when closing said second port, being movable toward the first port for a distance sufiicient for said piston to move past the said second port out of closing relationship therewith in response to force applied longitudinally to the rod in a direction toward the said first port; said rod being movable with said piston toward the first port for a distance predetermined and beyond that required for moving said piston away from closing contact with said second port, in response to force of pressure against said piston of fluid from the second port when the said force of pressure is greater than that of fluid from said first port; and said piston, when spaced from said second port by said predetermined distance, being movable in a direction toward said second port so as to close said second port in response to release of pressure in the cylinder of fluid from the said second port.

13. A feeding assembly for packing machines which comprises a nipple adapted to enter the mouth of a container to be filled; a reciprocable rod in alignment with the nipple and movable therethrough to force material to be packed through the nipple; a cylinder disposed about a portion of the rod above the nipple, and sealing means disposed between rod and cylinder adjacent each end of the cylinder; a piston mounted on the rod within the cylinder and disposed in sealed, slidable relationship with the cylinder walls; a first port in a side wall of said cylinder for introducing pressurized fluid into one end of the cylinder, a second port in the side wall of the cylinder for introducing pressurized fluid into the other end of the cylinder, and means for introducing fluid through each of the said ports into said cylinder; said piston being movable in said cylinder, in said slidable relationship, to a position adjacent the second port so as to then close same and prevent fluid flow through the second port, and being movable from said closing position, in said slidable relationship, toward said first port but short of closing same; said rod being adapted to reciprocably move to said nipple when said piston closes said second port; said piston, when closing said port, being movable toward the first port for a distance sufiicient for said piston to move past the said second port out of closing relationship therewith in response to force applied longitudinally to the rod in a direction toward the said first port; said rod being movable with said piston toward the first port for a distance sufiicient to move same from said reciprocable movement through said nipple and beyond that required for moving said piston away from closing contact with said second port, in response to force of pressure against said piston of fluid from the second port when greater than that of fluid from said first port; and said piston, when spaced from said second port by said predetermined distance, being movable in a direction toward said second port so as to close said second port in response to release of pressure in the cylinder of fluid from the said second port.

14. In apparatus of claim 1, means for shortening the effective stroke of said reciprocating rod responsive to an accumulation of fluent solids in said nipple.

15. In apparatus of claim 14, means responsive to a predetermined degree of said shortening of said stroke for raising said reciprocating rod from said nipple and retaining same in the thus raised position.

16. In apparatus of claim 15, means responsive to expiration of a predetermined time interval for releasing said reciprocating rod from said raised position to reestablish said reciprocation to force fluent solids through said nipple.

Hoffman Mar. 7, 1899 Remmen July 6, 1920 

